iTunes Match settings now visible on iOS 5 devices

Support for Apple's new iTunes Match service is now active and configurable in non-developer devices running iOS 5, indicating that it will soon roll out to the general public.

Devices running iOS 5 originally lacked any mention of iTunes Match under Settings/Music, but a toggle switch is now live, and does not require a software update.

After turning on iTunes Match, the user is prompted to enter the Apple ID associated with his or her iTunes Match subscription, although subscriptions have not yet been made available to the public. Developers have been able to sign up for accounts to test the new service for the past few weeks.

Once turned on, a second control appears that configures whether the device should show all music in the user's cloud based library, or only music that has been downloaded to the device.

iTunes Match will cost $24.99 per year, and provides a 256 Kbps AAC digital download from the cloud for each song appearing in a user's iTunes library, regardless of its original source, and in general, without having to actually upload gigabytes of music to the cloud (a process Apple says could otherwise take "weeks").

This allows legitimate owners of CDs who have ripped their collections the option of having all their music available from any iTunes PC or iOS mobile device associated with their iTunes Match account, but also allows file traders who have obtained music from less legitimate sources to similarly take their music to the cloud by paying a "no questions asked" fee that is shared with music owners.

Apple's official promotional materials say, "if you want all the benefits of iTunes in the Cloud for music you havent purchased from iTunes, iTunes Match is the perfect solution. It lets you store your entire collection, including music youve ripped from CDs or purchased somewhere other than iTunes, for just $24.99 a year."

As Apple explains, "heres how it works: iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to your iCloud library for you to listen to anytime, on any device. Since there are more than 18 million songs in the iTunes Store, most of your music is probably already in iCloud.

"All you have to upload is what iTunes cant match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch. And all the music iTunes matches plays back at 256-Kbps iTunes Plus quality even if your original copy was of lower quality."

So what happens when you stop paying the yearly fee? Does all your music revert back to its original low fidelity form?

In other words, can you download the up-converted copies to your hard drive, or are they only available by streaming?

Once you purchase iTunes Match and match up everything, you have the option to go ahead and download all of the higher quality songs to your hard drive, iDevice, whatever.Those files are yours to keep, no matter if you cancel the service or not. But remember, if you do cancel your service, and happen to lose your files, you cannot go and re-download them like you can with purchased content.

I am supposing that because it is not appearing for me, that it is a US only option at this point.

Itunes Match is going to be US only to start, it has to do with negotiating the rights issues with content owners for the various other nations. Therefore, no you shouldn't see an option to turn on Itunes Match if you are not in the US.

So what happens when you stop paying the yearly fee? Does all your music revert back to its original low fidelity form?

In other words, can you download the up-converted copies to your hard drive, or are they only available by streaming?

The songs are 256-kbps AAC+ DRM-free. Once the upgraded copy is on your hard drive, it's yours even if you cancel the service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeys

How does a toggle switch just appear without a software update? Was there an internal OS timer for the switch to appear today?

This has happened lots of times in iOS's history. When Apple gave the go-ahead to allow iTunes Music purchases over 3G, it just happened. Same can be said about the hotspot feature and iTunes Match - the software is pre-programmed to enable or hide features based on what the servers say. iTunes Match, for example, will only appear on devices in the US when it starts. Soon after, when it's available in other countries, Apple will just flip a switch and suddenly it will appear in those countries as well.

The songs are 256-kbps AAC+ DRM-free. Once the upgraded copy is on your hard drive, it's yours even if you cancel the service.

This has happened lots of times in iOS's history. When Apple gave the go-ahead to allow iTunes Music purchases over 3G, it just happened. Same can be said about the hotspot feature and iTunes Match - the software is pre-programmed to enable or hide features based on what the servers say. iTunes Match, for example, will only appear on devices in the US when it starts. Soon after, when it's available in other countries, Apple will just flip a switch and suddenly it will appear in those countries as well.

Dumb question:

are you sure you can download the 256kbps version to another device?

all I read in the description in the top post is that you can "listen on any other device" so doesn't that mean streaming?

I understand it to mean once they check that you own a song, you can hear it at a higher quality on other devices. I didn't notice it specifying that you can download the entire library. Just "listen".

all I read in the description in the top post is that you can "listen on any other device" so doesn't that mean streaming?

I understand it to mean once they check that you own a song, you can hear it at a higher quality on other devices. I didn't notice it specifying that you can download the entire library. Just "listen".

That's the whole point of match. It's *not* a streaming service.

Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face? - Jack D. Ripper

all I read in the description in the top post is that you can "listen on any other device" so doesn't that mean streaming?

I understand it to mean once they check that you own a song, you can hear it at a higher quality on other devices. I didn't notice it specifying that you can download the entire library. Just "listen".

From screenshots and videos posted already (I'm not a registered developer, so I don't have access to it, nor could I talk about it if I was), it appears to do both. When you turn on iTunes Match on the device, your entire music library shows up in the Music app. You can either tap on a song and stream it, or you can tap on the cloud icon next to each song to download it straight to your device. It caches streamed songs onto your device, so you don't have to download it every time you want to listen to it.

As a bonus, it will also sync your playlists across your devices as well. Edit a playlist on your iPhone, and it's instantly updated on your iPad and PC as well!. Neat.

I had to go back and the current iCloud page does mention that the files can stream though the specifics on that are vague right now. The original (WWDC) info on iCloud didn't seem to mention that (perhaps Spotify's intro had an affect on that). The iCloud page is very specific that the actual 256kbps AAC files can be downloaded or stream (not sure if this just means you can play it while it downloads or stream without persistently storing if you so choose) to any of your devices though.

Regardless though, Katonah can safely be assured that he/she can certainly download permanent copies of matched music (as permanent as the media thy choose to store it on).

Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face? - Jack D. Ripper

(not sure if this just means you can play it while it downloads or stream without persistently storing if you so choose) to any of your devices though.

I checked and Eddy Cue said "..will stream any songs, albums & playlists." It's interesting that he used the word "stream" but I agree with you it remains to be seen will the song be stored on your device if you just want to stream it.

Anyway, it's interesting that iTunes Match has a switch for lyric info. Anyone could shed some light on what this is?

Sweet. Really makes the Classic obsolete -- IF you have an Internet connection available.

well, yes or maybe no....

the fact that the songs are "available" in the cloud means just that... they are available.

here is what i have discovered so far.

1. i matched my library to Apples. (took about 4 hours)
2. where there was a match, the 256k m4a version was available.
3. where no match was found, my version was uploaded. (size was not a factor)
4. when i went to my iPhone, iPad, other macs with the beta running, my complete library was available.

So, as a test, i went to a new mac where nothing in iTunes existed. I "downloaded" my entire library. What was downloaded was 256 m4a files that matched and everything else that did not match. (a mix of mp3's or other formats that did not match)

As for the i devices, in order to listen to a song, technically, you 'download' the track. So...
If it "matched" the file is fairly small with great quality.
If it "did not match", you might be S.O.L. because downloading a 15mb mp3 might take awhile on 3g.

What is the best method for dealing with libraries that have more than 25,000 songs? Multiple Apple IDs and a 3d party library switcher? Multiple OS X user accounts?

Clearly this would not be to try to sync everything to iOS devices, but just to match songs in the main library in iTunes on a desktop.

And I guess the next question would be whether the newly downloaded matched songs can then be re-integrated with a library exceeding 25,000 songs, or if they are tagged in such a way as to prevent that.

What is the best method for dealing with libraries that have more than 25,000 songs? Multiple Apple IDs and a 3d party library switcher? Multiple OS X user accounts?

Clearly this would not be to try to sync everything to iOS devices, but just to match songs in the main library in iTunes on a desktop.

And I guess the next question would be whether the newly downloaded matched songs can then be re-integrated with a library exceeding 25,000 songs, or if they are tagged in such a way as to prevent that.

+1 to this.
I only have 9,000 songs, so I am ok right now.
Rather than multiple IDs, it would be nice to be able to just purchase more capacity...say, $5 more per year for 5,000 songs more.

If you HAVE THE CD, why wouldn't you just rip it to ALAC if you want a better quality file?!

The rips I have made as ALAC do have better sound than the 256k rips from apple or amazon. They are all but an exact copy of the original CD. When comparing with amazons I have found  rips to be better sounding; and the user experience in iTunes is way better.
The 256k rips from  definitely have very good sound though. There seems to be some EQ processing that enhances the bass or thickness of the tracks. That is not always a desirable effect for me, but I think most people think if the bass is big then its good....meh
Having said that I also have a lot of 192/24 or 96/24 music (many genre) that simply blows all others mentioned here out of the water. I have my iMac set up using "audio midi set up" to play music at 24 bit and then I use songbird or Quicktime to listen to them through good headphones or optical out from iMac to stereo amplifier.
I use XLD or iTunes to rip these files to ALAC for iphone/pod and they sound superior to the original cd's. The clarity and dynamics of the recordings is amazing.

I'm going to subscribe as well. I will delete all the songs except those I need for work from both my iPod Touch and my iPad. That will leave me room for some videos or something. I found the hard way that it's too much trouble to fill the space up with apps, even though it's greatly improved under iOS 5.